Oyster-punching machine.



A. M. ZIMMERS. OYSTER PUNGHING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 20,1911.

1,007,411 1, Patented 0011.31, 1911.

WITNESSES j] Z7 I Z9 ram/701a ABRAHAM M. ZIMMEBS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

OYSTER-PUNCHING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

Application filed May 20, 1911. Serial No. 628,521.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABRAHAM M. ZIM- MERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore city, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oyster-Punching Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This machine is in the nature of a machine for breaking away or cutting out notches in the mouths of oysters to facilitate the entrance of the oyster knife for the purpose of opening the oysters.

The object of the invention is to facilitate and expedite the opening of oysters by providing a machine which may be operated by foot action on a pedal, thus dispensing with the slow and uncertain hand action heretofore necessary, increasing the capacity of the operator, regulating the amount broken out, and cheapening the operation.

With this object in view, the invention consists in the improved construction, arrangement and combination of the parts of such a machine which will be hereinafter fully described and afterward specifically claimed.

In order that my invention may be readily understood, I will now proceed to specifically describe an embodiment thereof which I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the machine; Fig. 2 represents a plan view thereof, removed from the table; Fig. 3 represents a sectional view on a plane cutting vertically through the die and guide; Fig. at represents in perspective detail, the die member, detached, and Fig. 5 represents in perspective detail, the cutter or punch.

Like reference characters mark the same parts wherever they occur in the various figures of the drawings.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 6 indicates an ordinary table or counter, supported on legs 7 upon which my machine is mounted.

The base of the machine, which rests upon the table, consists of side rails 8 and 9, arranged at an angle to each other with the apex at the rear and the two front ends being connected by a cross piece 10 as shown. This cross piece may be of metal, as shown, or of wood, preferably covered with metal, and the structure may be stifi ened by further providing the cross piece with a flange-like side-supporting plate 11 connecting the legs 8 and 9. The cross piece 10 has secured upon its rear side the die 12, by means of bolts 13 passing through the die into said cross-piece.

Upon the top of the plate 11 is secured the gage, comprising a flat plate 14 provided wit-h slots 15, 15, through which pass bolts into the plate 11, whereby the gage can be adjusted frontward and rearward. Said bolts being secured by thumb nuts 16, litlgnd the gage being notched in the rear a Upon the rail 8 is mounted an inverted V-shaped frame 18 in the upper apex end of which, at 19, is pivotally attached a lever 20, to which, near its midlength at 21, is pivotally attached a punch 22 in vertical alinement with the die 12, the punch being curved in cross section to correspond with the central curve 23 of the diesee Fig. 4 and with the curved notch of the gage. The gage is bent upward at its rear edge, as at 2 1, and then forward at an inclination as at 25, forming a flaring mouth.

The punch 22 passes downward through a guide tube 26, in which, around the body of the punch, is coiled a spring 27 arranged to normally raise the punch and its lever 20, there being, at the outer end of the latter, a pivotally attached rod 28, forked at the top to embrace the lever, and at the bottom to embrace a pedal lever 29, to which it is pivoted, the pedal lever being pivoted to a bracket 30 secured to the floor 31 or other support.

The guide tube 26 is rigidly supported in vertical alinement with the die by means of braces 31 and 32 secured at their outer ends to the legs 8 and 9, and at their inner ends to the guide tube, and a brace 33 connecting the brace 31 and the tube. The gage being adjusted with relation to the die according to the amount to be cut out of the oyster shell, the oyster is placed mouth foremost into the gage with its extreme edge projecting into the notch of the gage, when it will only be necessary to depress the pedal with the foot, when the punch will descend, and in conjunction with the die, will out out substantially a semicircle from the two shells of the oyster at its mouth, leaving an opening of a similar shape into which the point of the usual oyster knife can instantly be introduced and the oyster quickly opened, only the one stroke of the punch being required instead of the repeated hammering now necessary. This one movement is also made with the foot, leaving the hands free for opening the oyster. The cut is always regular and clean, and all danger from the liability of the operator to strike the hand which holds the oyster in the old way, and from flying particles of shells, is absolutely eliminated.

While I have specifically described the construction of the parts of the embodiment of my invention here illustrated, it will be obvious that changes and variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. A machine of the character described comprising a frame, a cross piece secured thereon, a die secured to the cross piece, a gage secured on the cross piece having flaring mouth and a notch corresponding in shape with the die, a punch arranged to reciprocate in the notch and die.

2. A machine of the character described comprising a supporting bar, a curved die secured thereto, a cross piece secured on the supporting bar, a gage adjustably secured to the cross piece consisting of a flat plate bent upward and forward at the rear, notched through the bend to correspond with the die and forming a front converging mouth to receive the mouth end of an oyster, a punch curved in cross section, and means for reciprocating the punch past the die.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ABRAHAM M. ZIMMERS.

Witnesses E. VVAL'roN BREWINGTON, MARY M. MAGRAW'.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents, Washington, D. G. 

